Research Funding Opportunities - OMAFRA's Programs for 2011

OMAFRA currently invests over 60 million in research and innovation through the OMAFRA-University of Guelph Partnership (which the University administers) and through several other smaller programs administered by the Ministry.

New e-grant system launched

OMAFRA launched its new e-grant system entitled 'Research Management System (RMS)' on April 18, 2011. Researchers can now apply on-line to non-partnership research. The RMS' inaugaral program is the Food Safety Research Program. Other programs like New Directions will be added to the system in the future.

Research programs administered by the University of Guelph

• OMAFRA/University of Guelph partnership funds agri-food and rural research in seven theme areas. Other universities, research institutes, all levels of governments, and rural organizations may partner with Guelph University (UofG) for this funding, but the principal researcher must be from the UofG.
• The Agri-Food and Rural Link is a funding program for knowledge translation and transfer (KTT). The deadline for submission of proposals was Feb 28, 2011.

Research programs administered by the Ministry

The research programs listed here are open to Ontario's universities, research institutes, industry, governments, organizations or partnership networks. Applicants from outside the province must demonstrate how their proposed research will benefit Ontario's agri-food industry.

• Alternative Renewable Fuels Plus Research and Development Fund (2004-ongoing) contributes to the long term sustainability of Ontario's agri-food, energy and rural sectors. It explores new markets and uses for bioproducts, alternative renewable fuels and their co-products. Such products will decrease our dependency on fossil fuels, help reduce greenhouse gases and build a green economy.
• Food Safety Research Program (2001-ongoing) funds research which helps improve Ontario's food safety system by creating new methods for detecting pathogenic microorganisms and drugs in food as well as methods of mitigating those risks before the food gets to your table.
• Growing Forward in Ontario - under the Growing Forward initiative, the federal and provincial governments will make significant investments in Ontario in two suites of programs: Best Practices and Innovation and Science.
• New Directions Research program (2001-ongoing) funds research which creates new and alternative products and technologies helping the agri-food industry expand into new markets at home and abroad.

More information about OMAFRA research programs

• about research programs that were funded by OMAFRA in the past
• about the partnership research on the University of Guelph website

Information about other Provincial and Federal agri-food and rural research programs

• Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI)
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Science and Innovation (AAFC)
• CanAdapt
• National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHERC)
• National Research Council (NRC)
• Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
• Growing Forward